Method of controlling digital image processing apparatus for performing moving picture photographing mode, and digital image processing apparatus using the method

Abstract

A method of controlling a digital image processing apparatus that performs a moving picture photographing mode and a reproduction mode. The method includes the operations of detecting face frames where faces of different persons exist in an operations of storing images of a series of frames in a moving picture file in the moving picture photographing mode, storing representative image frames including face frames selected from the detected face frames in the moving picture photographing mode, and displaying images of the stored representative image frames to indicate the moving picture file in the reproduction mode. The method can be performed by a controller of the digital image processing apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling a digital image processing apparatus that performs a moving picture photographing mode and a reproduction mode, the method comprising:
 during an operation of capturing and storing images of a series of unit frames in a moving picture file in the moving picture photographing mode:
 capturing images of the series of unit frames; 
 detecting a representative set of face frames in the series of unit frames where each of the detected face frames of the representative set of face frames includes one or more faces of different persons than are included in at least one of the other unit frames of the representative set of face frames in the operation of capturing and storing images of a series of unit frames in the moving picture file in the moving picture photographing mode; and 
 storing the images of the series of unit frames in the moving picture file; 
 
 the method further comprising:
 storing representative image frames including face frames selected from the detected representative set of face frames in the moving picture photographing mode; and 
 displaying images of the stored representative image frames to indicate the moving picture file in the reproduction mode. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in the step of storing representative image frames, the representative image frames are stored in a recording medium with the moving picture file. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in the step of storing representative image frames, the representative image frames are combined in a graphics interchange format and stored in the recording medium. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting a representative set of face frames comprises:
 determining whether a new face exists in the present unit frame by comparing the detected face with faces existing in the detected representative set of face frames if a face is detected in a present unit frame, a new face being determined to exist if the detected face is of a person whose face is not already included in at least one of the other frames of the representative set of face frames; and 
 if a new face is determined to exist in the determining step, calculating a total area of a face in the present unit frame. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in the step of storing representative image frames, face frames selected in order of largeness of the total face area are included in the representative image frames. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in the step of storing representative image frames, a first frame, the selected face frames, and a final frame are included in the representative image frames. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in the step of storing representative image frames, when a face exists in a first frame or a final frame, each of the selected face frames includes a newer face compared to the first frame or final frame. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in the step of displaying images of the stored representative image frames, all images of the representative image frames are simultaneously displayed on a screen to indicate the moving picture file. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in the step of displaying images, images of the representative image frames are sequentially displayed to indicate the moving picture file. 
     
     
       10. A digital image processing apparatus that performs a moving picture photographing mode and a reproduction mode, the digital image processing apparatus comprising:
 a digital processor operable to control the digital image processing apparatus; 
 a non-transitory memory having stored thereon a program by which the digital processor operates, the program comprising:
 a program portion to perform an operation of capturing and storing images of a series of unit frames in a moving picture file in the moving picture photographing mode; 
 a program portion to, during the operation of capturing and storing images of a series of unit frames, capture images of the series of unit frames; 
 a program portion to, during the operation of capturing and storing images of a series of unit frames, detect a representative set of face frames in the series of unit frames where each of the detected face frames of the representative set of face frames includes one or more faces of different persons than are included in at least one of the other unit frames of the representative set of face frames in the operation of storing images of a series of frames in the moving picture file in the moving picture photographing mode; 
 a program portion to, during the operation of capturing and storing images of a series of unit frames, store the images of the series of unit frames in the moving picture file; 
 a program portion to store representative image frames including face frames selected from the detected representative set of face frames in the moving picture file during the moving picture photographing mode; and 
 a program portion to display images of the stored representative image frames to indicate the moving picture file in the reproduction mode. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The digital image processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein, when the representative image frames are stored, the representative image frames are stored in a recording medium with the moving picture file. 
     
     
       12. The digital image processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein, when the representative image frames are stored, the representative image frames are combined in a graphics interchange format and stored in the recording medium. 
     
     
       13. The digital image processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein when the representative set of face frames are detected, whether a new face exists in the present unit frame is determined by comparing the detected face with faces existing in the detected representative set of face frames if a face is detected in a present unit frame, a new face being determined to exist if the detected face is of a person whose face is not already included in at least one of the other frames of the representative set of face frames, and if a new face is determined to exist, a total area of a face in the present unit frame is calculated. 
     
     
       14. The digital image processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein, when the representative image frames are stored, face frames selected in order of largeness of the total face area are included in the representative image frames. 
     
     
       15. The digital image processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein, when the representative image frames are stored, a first frame, the selected face frames, and a final frame are included in the representative image frames. 
     
     
       16. The digital image processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein, when the representative image frames are stored, when a face exists in a first frame or a final frame, each of the selected face frames includes a newer face compared to the first frame or final frame. 
     
     
       17. The digital image processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein, when the images of the stored representative image frames are displayed, all images of the representative image frames are simultaneously displayed on a screen to indicate the moving picture file. 
     
     
       18. The digital image processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein, when the images are displayed, the images of the representative image frames are sequentially displayed to indicate the moving picture file. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in the step of displaying images of the stored representative image frames, when a user selects any one representative image during which images of the representative image frames are displayed to indicate the moving picture file, the selected representative image and images of subsequent frames are reproduced. 
     
     
       20. The digital image processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein when displaying the images of the stored representative image frames, and when a user selects any one representative image during which images of the representative image frames are displayed to indicate the moving picture file, the program portion to display images of the stored representative image frames to indicate the moving picture file reproduces the selected representative image and images of subsequent frames.